We all know the stereotypes surrounding welfare. Lazy, opportunists, thieves. I'm sure many know these types. Many of us know others who are anything but those things. My family went on welfare when my dad left us and we were on it for 2 years. My mom just needed it to help us get by so we had food and wouldn't loose the roof over our head. My mother never stopped working that whole time and when she got a good footing again, she went to the welfare office and told them she didn't need it anymore. They told her she could stay on for another three years since she was pregnant but she said we were good and that was that.

Currently my sister is receiving food stamps. She is working but her boyfriend does not help her. He's a lazy shiftless bum. My sister works full time, contributes to society and just needs a little help to feed the kids. She isn't spending her money wildly, as a matter of fact we help her with lots of things and if it weren't for us she would be on welfare totally.

For everyone who thinks people are getting a free ride, my sister receives $118.00 per month for food stamps. This equals

• $3.80 per day for all 5 people.
  
• .76 cents per day for each person, including a baby.
  
• .25 cents per meal per person

THINK ABOUT THIS. Does that sound like luxurious living to you? To survive on .25 cents per meal? The system requires you to be in the gutter to receive proper help. My sister has been on the HUD waiting list for 6 years while the banks receive $700 billion in a matter of days for their thievery. Once a person starts doing better, assistance is more or less cut off and people need to be able to depend on it as a bridge from hard times to normal survival.

It's so easy to label people and hate them but for those that do hopefully you never find yourself truly in need because you'll find out it aint what it's cracked up to be.....

Urine test!

Mars23 said:

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

Sorry. I figured that had to be the inspiration.

Those chain emails are just an anonymous way to spread racism and hate in general.

Nice read, Supafunky. Yeah, a lot of people buy into the myth that people are living high on the hog with welfare. Having been on the dole when I was younger, I understand what you are talking about.

There are many that legitimately need our help and those ones i have no issue helping, however there would be more money for those that need it if there were not the scumbag assholes taking it too.
It is a shame that the bad ones give the ones who just need a helping hand, a bad name

mdiver said:

You won't get an argument about that from one single person. The government should be able to deal with this problem without jeopardizing real people in need.

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

Same problem here bro. There are too many people with no personal responsibility in the world

it's all about perception. young mothers will have bumps and bruises, until they fully adjusted to the welfare system. after a while, she will be an established welfare mom. and if she is really good, she'll send her children to college.


but really, what are gettin at???
[Edited 12/4/08 15:20pm]

My friend, a single mother, cannot work because of her health (pre-cancerous cells and nodules on her thyroid, which depletes her energy) is on a disability pension, receives rent assistance and some allowance for her child. She is paid each fortnight, and yet by day 12 she usually has nothing left. She can't really prepare proper meals where she lives (and take-out is very expensive and unhealthy, ditto for supermarket baby food) has been on a waiting list for different housing for nearly 2 years now. Yesterday she was assigned a new support worker, and she is eligible for a meals delivery service, she is over the moon, but kind of sad she didn't know about it when she got home alone with a newborn, bewildered and beyond fatigued. People like her fall through the gaps somehow. She will be spending christmas with us.

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

You took the words right out of my mouth hun.

ZombieKitten said:

You and your family are good people Charlotte

mdiver said:

I don't care what my folks think, she can't be sitting in her squalid place with her kid by herself on that day. You would do the same Phil, I know it.

ZombieKitten said:

Some days this place makes me think that the world isn't all assholes.

mdiver said:

assholes just get the most publicity

ZombieKitten said:

They tend to shout the loudest

mdiver said:

I don't care anymore.....never wanted to trade life with a welfare cheat.....I and most people are responsible for ourselves if there are cheats let them cheat, they still aren't making 700 billion

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

You always hear politicians and their shills on the radio demonize folks who truly need help, yet these same pols have no problem doling out corporate welfare. Just shows you whoever has the gold makes the rules.

mdiver said:

Bless you Phil for what you and Val just did

ZombieKitten said:

I'm all for welfare for those who need it. I remember years ago when I was unemployed I considered getting food stamps. And the counselor at the office told me I wasn't eligible cuz I had a car. I asked her how am I supposed to get to work if I don't have a car and she said that was just the rule and she could not help me. Luckily, I found a job the next week but it was discouraging. I know a lot of people who've tried to get assistance and couldn't. On the flip side, I know people that mail their food stamp card to others in exchange for cash. So, there are lots of folks taking advantage of the system.
[Edited 12/4/08 16:06pm]

Here is one of my favorite myths about welfare....and the truth of it...



I found this article that busts a bunch of other myths, including the one above...read it if you like....

welfare to work myths

When my personal savings ran out after my contract with a company was suddenly not extended due to budget cuts and I had still not found a replacement job, I panicked. Terrified that I wouldn't be able to pay my rent, feed my child I swallowed my pride and applied for it. No one knew I did it because I felt totally embarrassed about it....but I had a child to take care of so it had to be done. I received one cheque and landed a new job like a week after getting it so I was in and out of the system in a matter of one month. My cheque (which was the maximum they give) didn't even cover my rent, btw.

But I'm very grateful for the help I received.

alright, i'll share... I worked my ass off from the age of fourteen. i started having mental health challenges in 2000, my boyfriend became my husband, and he also became a total ass. he was never around. I had to do it on my own....WITH his constant interference and sabatoge toward me and my children. that has nothing to do with welfare, but i'm painting a picture.

i got on welfare for six months. welfare has nothing to do with intelligence as much as it has to do with just plain needing it. however, with the challenges.....I wasn't able to see my daughter follow in my footsteps and go out to find employment/education, etc. she fell into a whirlwind and came out with 2 children and is on welfare....so what. huh?. SHe gets more money from insurance, etc. than i have being an ass about not being able to go to work from 9-5 anymore. I have another daughter who is 20 and has to bust her ass extra hard to work and attend college....I was always her financial cushion.

Can we talk about the government and their shady ways??? They can make billions, trillions, and millions then turn around and slap me for a couple thousand to feed my folks!!!

But, I'm the reason the fukkin government needs all the extra cushion tho.... bullshyt. Gimme me my check, I will steal what i can't hustle for and fuck the world. That is the example I have been given.
Thanks govenmentals! ! !

myfavorite said:

What are you getting at?

SCNDLS said:

Yes I've known those who take advantage as well. But that is a prime example of why the sytem is so fucked. You are required to have nothing to get it when sometimes people just need a little help to go along with their own contributions.

The system didn't need to be revamped to keep it out of the hands of as many people as possible, it needed to be revamped to be a reality based program. They would rather you fuck yourself and need the shit for good than to give you the little bit of help when you need it. That isn't the life of riley people want to make it out as.....

JustErin said:

A full check doesn't cover standard living. It just doesn't.

myfavorite said:

Well the agency that issues food stamps overpaid my sister a whopping $200 in food stamps over an extended period of time and now they want her to pay it back in cash, deduct from the $118 she and the kids receive or take her to court

I totally understand you, Supa. My family received welfare when I was a child too. My mother had food stamps, cash and medical insurance for us, but it was no picnic. You're only getting but so much. Some people think welfare recipients are lazy, shiftless and stupid. People don't take into consideration that shit happens and you are forced to accept welfare as means of spport until you can do better. Whenyou my mom was able to do better, she was able to eventually drop it.
I remember when a truck used to come around and give out free lunches, big ass bricks of yellow cheese and butter to families. I hated all of it except the butter.

About ten years ago, I was laid off from a job and collecting unemployment. I decided I would try to get health insurance and food stamps to help. The case worker denied my application, said my UNEMPLOYMENT check was too high and that you basically had to be destitute to get any help.

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

Those sons of bitches are fucking merciless!!!